"Incubus" - worst horror movie ever made?

[katdad]

There are plenty of intentionally "bad" horror/supernatural movies (Bruce Campbell's "My Name is Bruce" for example) and there are other movies so bad that they're funny ("Plan 9").

But the worst horror movie ever made has to be "Incubus", the 1965 movie starring Bill Shatner and with all dialogue in Esperanto.

This movie is actually so bad that it's not even unintentionally funny. Awful acting, poor camera work, incomprehensible plot, you name it, this movie has NOT got it!

Anyone else think that Incubus is the worst horror film ever?

[neverending]

No, I rather like it. Definitely bizarre, and the climax is botched... but I think it's far from the worst horror movie ever.

[The Ugly Duchess]

My vote for the worst horror movie is The Blair Witch Project.

That should have been shown on the World's Funniest Videos , substituting the word "worst" for "funniest".

I could have done better than that and I don't even known how to use that type of camera.

[TheWickerFan]

There are so many truly awful movies. I suppose the most recent film that was so bad I flew into a rage was The Final Destination.

[Doc Faustus]

Sooooo many horror movies that are worse than Incubus. I don't know where to begin. But, pretty much every horror movie made in the last ten years is worse than Incubus. There's been much more bad than good in the genre and it's not enjoyably bad either. Incubus at least has the amusing spectacle of Esperanto Shatner. There is fun to be had.

[The Ugly Duchess]

It's coming on this week on TCM.

I may record it on rewritable DVD.

If i like it I'll keep it,

If not, I'll record over it.

I generally like anything with William Shatner.

But there is always that real doozie someone plays in!

Oh well!

[katdad]

OMG you're right! Incubus is on TCM Friday 9/25 (actually early Sat. depending on what time zone).

I realize there are plenty of awful horror movies but for me, Incubus holds a special spot. For me, it invokes absolute brain freeze.

Those who haven't seen it, please set your recorders.

[katdad]

Endured "Incubus" tonight once again. I know that there are worse made horror/supernatural movies, but none is so serious, earnest, and plodding. I think what makes it to my "worst ever" top is that they didn't just toss gory stuff together like your typical bad horror movie, but instead actually tried to make a serious and intellectual "film" aka Ingmar Bergman but instead ended up with a Woody Allen semi-spoof.

I especially liked the instant total solar eclipse, followed "hard upon" (as Horatio says) with a nice full moon that very night. Er, nope.

I also wondered who the heck took that certainly fatal plunge down the cliff face?

There was also that seemingly endless traipsing thru the woodlands and fields. It went on and on and on....

[The Ugly Duchess]

I recorded it last night.

I have never seen it.

It came on at 1 AM in the morning so I will watch it over this weekend.

I'll let you know my thoughts.

[The Ugly Duchess]

I recorded Incubus last night and played it today. Have never seen it before.

There are much worse horror films but this one is certainly not the best.

The plusses:

It is very dark and has a certain amount of atmosphere.

It stars William Shatner, which is a plus to any film. But this certainly not one of his best efforts.

It's set up sort of like a morality play similar to Bergman films.

And most amazing, Leonard Maltin gives it 3 out of 4 stars.

The negatives:

No matter how hard it tries to be like a Bergman film ,there is no way it can be compared with the fine works of Bergman.

It plods along at a slow pace and at times makes no sence.

The ending with the so called heroine fighting with a goat ( supposed to be the devil) is absolutely ridiculous.

It's more like a silly satire than a serious film.

It is the only film made in the Esperanto language. Does that language even exist anymore?

It uses subtitles which I am use to but would prefer it in English even if it is dubbed. You have to make an extra effort to read the conversation.

It wasn't a complete waist of time but I could have done better things like watch The Howling, War Of The Worlds, The Night Of The Demon or The Exorcist.

There are worse horror films like The Beast Of Yucca Flats or the absolutely terrible Blair Witch Project.

Well, that's how I feel about it.


The Duchess

[katdad]

Thanks for the review. No, I don't think the film is honestly the worst ever, but its pretentiousness and overall "serious" intent backfire and make it laughable, and of course superbly boring.

The goat fight is a hoot. Regarding the subtitles, apparently the original prints of the film were lost, and a few years later, a French version was found in which French language titles were overlaid. Later, the English words were superimposed but the blacked-out zones are impossible to fix.

I liked how the incubus brags about the sister "she has no tongue" and then she's able to speak to her brother. And the full solar eclipse followed that very evening by a full moon.

I also never figured out how Shatner was so badly wounded in the fight. I think he got punched out a bit but otherwise don't know his injuries -- maybe injury to the "soul"? hah. And if faith is your shield, why is the sister wounded? She stays "good" as far as I can figure, so she should be "immune" from evil, unless she strays. Oh, well, not a lot of the movie makes much sense.

I've learned over the years that if I don't understand a plot sequence or theme or some other part of a movie, it's not because I'm dense -- it's because the makers simply screwed up. I'm not bragging but I've got a degree in English lit, have read Joyce's "Ulysses" maybe a dozen times, and have a decent amateur library on the great novel. I wrote my thesis on Hamlet. I've written magazine articles and book/movie reviews, one novel, lots of short stories, etc etc. Plus I have a degree in analytical chemistry and worked in high tech jobs for 30+ years.

Not bragging, just stating my bio, a way of indicating that I can spot goofy or dumb movies and it's not "over my head" but simply wrong in most cases.

Anyway, no, true, I've seen worse horror movies than Incubus but none that are so deadly serious about making a "meaningful" movie --- excuse me, "film". ha ha

Compare this with "Night of the Demon" that stands up logically and all makes sense throughout. Eh.